AREMA® Committee 39 Spring 2009 Meeting Minutes

Positive Train Control

March 19th 2009

Holiday Inn Oceanfront Resort; Cocoa Beach, Florida

Thursday March 19th, 2009

 The “Kick-Off” Meeting of AREMA Committee 39 was called to order at 1:00 PM by Jim Barrett (BNSF), appointed Interim Chairman. The safety briefing for the facility and introductions were made by Victor Babin (Chairman of AREMA Committee 37).

 Mr. Barrett called on Mike Choat (AREMA C&S Group VP) who addressed the new members of Committee 39, explaining that AREMA was directed to develop and organize a new AREMA Committee to address the issue of “Positive Train Control”.

 Mr. Choat then called for the Committee Members to elect a Chairman, Vice Chairman and Secretary for Committee 39. Request for members to serve these positions were put to the floor. Nominations were called for motions and the committee voted to approve Mr. Jim Barrett (BNSF) as Committee 39 Chairman, Mr. Harvey Glickenstein (Parsons Brinkerhoff, Inc.) as Committee 39 Vice Chairman, and Mr. Dave Gove (Transportation Products Sales Company, Inc.) as Committee 39 Secretary.

 Mr. Barrett then presented the Committee 39 Charter:

“The purpose of AREMA Committee 39 is to continually review current and new technology addressing the installation, testing and maintenance of Positive Train Control equipment and systems and develop recommended "industry practices" with the overall goal of improving the safety and reliability of train operations.”

 Chairman Barrett then explained the presentations would be made by Kevin Kautzman (BNSF), Michael Newcomb (UPRR) and Bill Petit (Principal - Petit Consulting) addressing different segments of the “Positive Train Control” initiatives which are already being addressed by the US Class One Railroads and Major Signal Suppliers.

 Kevin Kautzman, BNSF, presented a Power Point on “Interoperable Train Control” explaining the ITC Agreement. He noted the BNSF, CSX, NS and UPRR signed an agreement to establish positive train control interoperability standards and identified January 1, 2011 as the date the ITC System is to be Revenue Ready.

 Michael Newcomb, UPRR, presented information on V/ETMS (Vital and Non-Vital).
The Power Point overview of vital and non-vital train control systems used by BNSF, CSX, NS and UPRR, included high level functional and technical information. Proposed a "deep-dive" in specific technical areas as appropriate at a future meeting.

 Bill Petit, Principal, Petit Consulting provided an overview of Communication-based signaling project which include AREMA efforts to establish interoperability guidelines for CBS in the manual of Recommended Practices for Signaling and FRA funded Demonstration Project. His presentation also included an explanation of CBS Architecture and a demonstration of overall architecture and interoperability. Additional details can be found at his website: .

 Discussion was held of Committee 39 objectives. It was suggested that words “wayside” be inserted in the wording of the Committee 39 Charter. (Committee agreed)

 Mike Choat (AREMA C&S Group VP) clarified that Committee 39 is not to consider locomotive equipment.

 Jim Barrett expressed the need for sub-committee chairmen. The following individuals agreed to head these three noted sub-committees.

  • Installation – Greg Hackbarth, HAX Technologies
  • Configuration Management – Mark Engels, ESCORRT LLC
  • *Testing and Maintenance – Dave Thurston, Parsons - Transportation Group

*(The Committee indicated that Testing and Maintenance may need to be separate

Sub-Committees; however for now they will be treated as one under Dave

Thurston.)

 Discussion by group indicated agreement that the following issues need to be addressed by Committee 39.

  • Defining WIU behavior
  • Message bodies
  • Security
  • I/O specifications
  • Diagnostics
  • Application of appropriate AREMA manual subparts
  • Defining user interface
  • How to standardize with Commuter Railroads and Shortlines.

 Suggestion was made by Harvey Glickenstein (Parsons Brinkerhoff, Inc.) that the WIU standards for PTC need to interface with AREMA standards, detailing that the inputs from field devices should conform to current AREMA standards.

 Members indicated that PTC needs to be compatible with signaling equipment at highway grade crossings, intermediate signals, switches and bridge alignments in signaled territory and non-signaled territory. Configuration Management also needs to be considered. Installation hardware must use VITAL equipment.

 Jim Barrett will send out email defining sub-committee tasks.

 Next meeting for AREMA Committee 39 will be held on Wednesday, May 20, 2009, 3:00pm to 7pm, following the RSSI exhibits in Nashville. Details will be posted on the AREMA web site.

 Meeting was adjourned at 5:05 pm.

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